Loading...
Publication
Do corpo e da mente: consequências da exposição a acidentes de viação para os polícias de trânsito
| Name: | Description: | Size: | Format: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.61 MB | Adobe PDF |
Authors
Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
A problemática da sinistralidade rodoviária é uma realidade mundial na qual Portugal
também se insere. Nos casos em que de um acidente rodoviário resultam mortos ou
feridos graves, a presença policial garante a correta participação e gestão do acidente.
Para os polícias, o contacto com situações destas, acarreta elevados níveis de stress e,
consequentemente, o desenvolvimento de diversas reações, sejam elas psicológicas,
físicas ou comportamentais. Nesta investigação procurou-se conhecer os impactos da
exposição sistemática a acidentes rodoviários com mortos e feridos graves para o efetivo
policial que com eles lida, e quais os mecanismos que os polícias da PSP utilizam para
lidar com as consequências daí resultantes. Para isso, realizou-se um estudo qualitativo,
tendo-se entrevistado 17 polícias pertencentes à Brigada de Investigação de Acidentes de
Viação da Divisão de Trânsito do Comando Metropolitano de Lisboa. Os dados
recolhidos foram tratados através da análise de conteúdo. Os resultados revelam o
conteúdo do trabalho como origem dos impactos sentidos pelos polícias, as principais
consequências psicológicas remetem para sintomas relacionados com fadiga por
compaixão, trauma primário e ansiedade, obrigando ao recurso a um conjunto de
estratégias de defesa individuais. A procura por ajuda psicológica no seio da instituição
não surge como uma opção evidente, reforçando-se o estigma que os polícias mantêm
face à saúde mental. Destaca-se a necessidade de uma intervenção multidimensional para
a promoção do apoio aos polícias e minimização do estigma.
The problem of road accidents is a worldwide reality, of which Portugal is also a part. When a road accident results in the death or serious injury of someone, the police presence guarantees the correct participation and management of the accident. In this context, it is not only the victims who suffer the negative impacts. For the police officer, this reality implies contact with a critical incident, which may lead to high levels of stress and consequently the development of several reactions, whether emotional, physical or behavioural. This research sought to identify the impacts of systematic exposure to road accidents with fatalities and serious injuries on the police personnel who deal with them and the mechanisms used by the PSP police officers to overcome the reactions/problems that arise from this contact. To this end, based on a qualitative method, 17 police officers belonging to the Traffic Accidents Investigation Brigade of the Traffic Division of the Lisbon Metropolitan Command were interviewed, and the data collected was treated through content analysis. The results emphasise the work content as the origin of the impacts felt by the police officers, where the main psychological consequences concern symptoms related to compassion fatigue, primary trauma and anxiety, forcing the development of a set of individual strategies such as the abstraction of that reality and the separation of professional/personal life, opting for the ventilation of problems in partnership with colleagues. The search for psychological help within the institution is not an option, thus reinforcing the stigma felt by police officers regarding mental health. The need for a multidimensional intervention to promote support for police officers and minimise this stigma is highlighted.
The problem of road accidents is a worldwide reality, of which Portugal is also a part. When a road accident results in the death or serious injury of someone, the police presence guarantees the correct participation and management of the accident. In this context, it is not only the victims who suffer the negative impacts. For the police officer, this reality implies contact with a critical incident, which may lead to high levels of stress and consequently the development of several reactions, whether emotional, physical or behavioural. This research sought to identify the impacts of systematic exposure to road accidents with fatalities and serious injuries on the police personnel who deal with them and the mechanisms used by the PSP police officers to overcome the reactions/problems that arise from this contact. To this end, based on a qualitative method, 17 police officers belonging to the Traffic Accidents Investigation Brigade of the Traffic Division of the Lisbon Metropolitan Command were interviewed, and the data collected was treated through content analysis. The results emphasise the work content as the origin of the impacts felt by the police officers, where the main psychological consequences concern symptoms related to compassion fatigue, primary trauma and anxiety, forcing the development of a set of individual strategies such as the abstraction of that reality and the separation of professional/personal life, opting for the ventilation of problems in partnership with colleagues. The search for psychological help within the institution is not an option, thus reinforcing the stigma felt by police officers regarding mental health. The need for a multidimensional intervention to promote support for police officers and minimise this stigma is highlighted.
Description
Keywords
impactos da atividade policial incidenes críticos polícia de segurança pública resposta a acidentes rodoviários saúde mental impacts of police activity critical incidents public security police response to road accidents mental health